YEONGAM, South Korea: Sebastian Vettel jets off to one of his favourite circuits knowing he can seal a fourth world title in succession, but he insists he is not popping the champagne corks just yet.
The Red Bull man led from pole to chequered flag at Sunday’s Korean Grand Prix, meaning he will retain his crown if he wins again this week and Fernando Alonso is not in the top eight.
But after another dominant victory -- his fourth in as many races -- in front of a modest crowd at Yeongam, the 26-year-old Vettel said: “No win is inevitable.
“Sure, there’s some sort of expectation as things went so well in the immediate past and also because I like Suzuka a lot.
“But I would find it inappropriate to sort of bank on winning.
“Before a win there is work to be done and at the moment we are enjoying doing that work. Of course, that’s also because we are on a fantastic run.”
The German was never seriously under threat on Sunday, although the appearance twice of the safety car and a fire truck coming onto the track did add some much-needed spice.
The fire truck was rushed out after Vettel’s Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber was shunted off by Force India’s Adrian Sutil and Webber’s car promptly burst into flames.
Webber, in his final season in Formula One, clambered safely out, but there was consternation and confusion when the truck came onto the track and briefly led the field, before the safety car was deployed.
Asked what he thought when he saw the fire truck lumbering in front of him, Vettel said: “That hopefully nothing severe had happened.
“But then I saw Mark standing by his car -- that indeed looked pitiful -- and that was a relief.”
Vettel insisted the victory, four seconds ahead of Kimi Raikkonen, whose Lotus team-mate Romain Grosjean was in hot pursuit, was not straight forward.
Tyre manufacturer Pirelli was forced again to defend itself in Korea, with Alonso, Webber and Sergio Perez -- whose tyre exploded -- all voicing concerns.
AFP
